wfn.org | Archbishop of Canterbury Challenges Anglican Consultative Council

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

ACNS 1878 · 15 September 1999 · Dundee [ACC-11/13]
"ANGLICANS DO NOT LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLE 'ANYTHING GOES'"
The Archbishop of Canterbury's Presidential Address to the Anglican
Consultative Council
In an address that gave a challenge to the prevailing views of many
Anglicans, the Most Rev George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
indicated that 'diversity' and 'comprehensiveness' are not, in his view, the
defining characteristics of Anglicanism. Instead he said that 'the constant
interplay of Scripture, tradition and reason provide limits to diversity,'
and that Anglicans do not live by the principle 'Anything goes.' Dr Carey
made these observations during his Presidential Address to the meeting of
the Anglican Consultative Council in Dundee, Scotland.
"Now some have said the idea that the "diversity" and "comprehensiveness"
that have been our by words can be held up as the defining characteristic of
Anglicanism. I do not accept that," Archbishop Carey said. "I, and I guess
most of us, do not accept that there are no cardinal doctrines, beliefs or
limits to orthodoxy...We must be very wary of any understanding of
comprehensiveness that masks doctrinal indifference. Instead we need to view
it as the breadth of a Communion exploring the fullness of a faith rooted in
Scripture, anchored in the creeds, expressed in faithfulness to the
Dominical sacraments and embodied in a faithful episcopally-led Church," the
Archbishop said in a veiled reference to the Lambeth Quadrilateral, a
statement on reunion accepted by the Lambeth Conferences of 1888 and 1920.
'Unity' was another issue the Archbishop discussed. Pointing out that there
were cultural, theological and even contextual reasons for conflict among
Anglicans, Dr Carey quoted one of his predecessors, Archbishop Michael
Ramsey, who wrote "The Cross is the place where the theology of the Church
has its meaning, where the unity of the Church is a deep and present
reality..."
"The unity question will not be solved through easy humanistic ideas of
fellowship and brotherhood, but by the hard road of the Cross," Archbishop
Carey said. Being open to the creative will of God will lead into difficult
areas, and perhaps conflict with others, but the more strongly Christians
hold to the faith, with clearer minds about the lines between belief and
unbelief, heresy and orthodoxy, the sharper will be the challenge.
While the Archbishop affirmed vigorous debate and healthy intellectual
engagement on the basis of shared faith as important ingredients for
Christian struggling to share their faith with the world around, he also
repudiated unilateral action by dioceses and provinces within the Anglican
Communion.
"No-one has the right to take decisions that affect the whole. The moment
the 'local' wrests decisions from the whole, it is engaging in division," he
said. "Every House of Bishops must seek unity of vision for the sake of the
Province it leads - and deviation from agreed constitutions will only weaken
the Church bishops claim to serve. No Province should take unilateral action
which affects and impairs the whole Communion....to engage in division is
itself to undermine the truth," Archbishop Carey said. "The call to unity is
at least as strong in Scripture as is the call to purity and holiness."
Archbishop Carey mentioned two matters that had recently "come across his
desk." These were the non attendance at the ACC meeting of the Dr Moses Tay,
the Archbishop of South East Asia at the meeting, who had written to the
Archbishop expressing disappointment that some parts of the Communion
appeared to be ignoring or rejecting key resolutions of the Lambeth
Conference. "We are the poorer without his voice," the Archbishop said.
Archbishop Carey also voiced he disagreement with the central thesis in
Bishop Richard Holloway's book Godless Morality where Dr Carey believes
Bishop Holloway argues that God must be left out of the moral debate.
"Surely to conclude that we must turn our back on scriptural insights and
teachings, the body of doctrine in the Church formed over the years and
theological learning is an unacceptable option for us," Archbishop Carey
said.
Referring to the 1998 Lambeth Conference Dr Carey said he believed it had
achieved a great deal, and on many things there was considerable agreement.
He instanced the energy and determinism on International Debt, about
Anglican relations with Islam which differ round the world, the importance
of creative ministry to youth, and the vital challenges of mission and
evangelism. "We are constantly called to be a missionary church proclaiming
Christ until he comes again," he said.
While Archbishop Carey was very direct in his address, it was received in
the spirit of openness that is characterising this meeting of the Anglican
Consultative Council. Archbishop Carey and Bishop Holloway were observed
warmly greeting each other after the presidential address concluded.
Communications Team
ACC-11
Ian Douglas, Margaret Rodgers, Jim Rosenthal and Manasseh Zindo